{"id":65069,"date":"2019-05-06T18:03:13","date_gmt":"2019-05-06T22:03:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=65069"},"modified":"2021-03-20T09:35:48","modified_gmt":"2021-03-20T13:35:48","slug":"a-look-at-the-minnesota-vikings-secondary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2019\/05\/06\/a-look-at-the-minnesota-vikings-secondary\/","title":{"rendered":"A Look at the Minnesota Vikings Secondary"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s no secret that Minnesota Vikings<\/a> Head Coach Mike Zimmer<\/strong> loves defensive backs. The Vikings shocked a lot of people when they avoided drafting a cornerback early in last month\u2019s draft. Still, there are still questions to be answered about the secondary before training camp this summer. Will anyone be traded? Are there any open spots up for grabs? Who will make the final roster? Well, let\u2019s take a closer look at the Vikings secondary.<\/p>\n

The Current State of the Minnesota Vikings Secondary<\/h2>\n

Minnesota will head into 2019 with a majority of the same faces as last season. The only change to the (expected) starting lineup is Anthony Harris<\/a><\/strong> at safety in place of Andrew Sendejo<\/a><\/strong>. Xavier Rhodes<\/a><\/strong> and Trae Waynes<\/a><\/strong> are both on the roster despite some trade rumors. 2018 first-round pick Mike Hughes<\/a><\/strong> will return from a torn ACL on time, so it appears.<\/p>\n

Holton Hill<\/a><\/strong> is suspended the first four games of the season for violating the league\u2019s substance abuse policy. He should have a chance to play when he returns, as he showed flashes as a rookie. Mackensie Alexander<\/a><\/strong> will also be expected to step up in 2019. Alexander will most likely be the nickel corner as the team begins training camp. Kris Boyd was the only cornerback selected by the Vikings in the 2019 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n

Safety presents a whole new issue for the Vikings. Harrison Smith<\/a><\/strong> is one of the best in the league at the position, and he is a staple of the defense. After him, there aren\u2019t any guarantees. Anthony Harris will be the frontrunner to start next to Smith at the start of camp. He showed tremendous growth while Sendejo missed time last season. The only other safety on the roster with any meaningful experience is Jayron Kearse<\/a><\/strong>. Kearse has been a stud on special teams in his career, but recent murmurings suggest he could move to linebacker next season.<\/p>\n

2019 sixth-round pick Marcus Epps<\/strong> joins Derron Smith<\/a> and Micah Abernathy<\/strong> in the competition for a backup spot. The Vikings lack depth on the back end of the defense, which is vital for their defense.<\/p>\n

What to Expect<\/h2>\n

There is still a slight chance that the Vikings move Trae Waynes in order to create space for the 2019 draft class under the cap. While there are plenty of options behind Waynes if he were to be moved, he is the clear-cut number two. Waynes has improved year after year and developed into a very good cornerback in the NFL. Moving on would require a brisk shift in the culture of the defensive backs room. Xavier Rhodes is a lockdown-caliber corner coming off a rough season by his own standards. With Zimmer on his tail, Rhodes will return to a high level of play in 2019. Mike Hughes looked excellent in his brief sting before the injury, but he isn\u2019t quite ready to be a starter on the outside. Mackensie Alexander has played almost exclusively in the slot, which suits him well. Holton Hill is the only player with the size to really stand out on the perimeter, but he will not be available early on.<\/p>\n

Harrison Smith is one the best safeties in football, that\u2019s just who he is as a player. He is Zimmer\u2019s toy, and that\u2019s that. He will have an enormous impact on the team\u2019s overall success. Anthony Harris is the only safety left on the roster with the skill set to play every snap. He should have the keys for the future. There were reports earlier in the week that Jayron Kearse was going to practice some at linebacker in camp in preparation for a new role in 2019, but he shut those reports down. The move could give him a chance to see the field more, but the Vikings need depth at safety as things stand. The Vikings currently have no cap space to sign any significant names that can contribute right away.<\/p>\n

A Closer Look<\/h2>\n

Mackensie Alexander<\/h3>\n

There are a lot of expectations for Mackensie Alexander as he heads into year four. After a quiet rookie season, Alexander has shown considerable growth in each season since. Last season was by far the best of his career, and it is a great building block for 2019. In 2018, Alexander started six games and recorded 10 pass deflections. The more reps, the quicker Alexander adapted to the new role.<\/p>\n

Now, what is crucial in the slot is the ability play both the run and pass. We have seen that growth in Alexander\u2019s game as well. In 2018, he racked up 43 tackles, four sacks, and five hits on the quarterback. Seven of his tackles came for a loss, a huge boost to the defense. He blows up the short screens and can get through the line on hand-offs and tosses. His experience inside gives him a slight edge over the rest of the corners fighting for a starting spot.<\/p>\n

These first two clips are from Alexander’s rookie season.<\/p>\n

\n

Commercial Break: Once Mackensie Alexander learns to stop being so grabby, he's going to be ok. Where have we heard that before? pic.twitter.com\/q0tWANLM1t<\/a><\/p>\n

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) March 11, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n